Lab-grade pH, EC, TDS, salinity & resistivity in one benchtop unit — built for production grows.
The Apera PC820 (AI533) is a precision benchtop multiparameter meter that simultaneously measures pH, EC, TDS, salinity, resistivity, and temperature with ±0.002 pH accuracy — the level of resolution commercial cultivators need when dialing in fertigation, nutrient programs, and water treatment across multiple rooms or facilities.
The Apera PC820 is a precision benchtop multiparameter meter designed for environments where ±0.01 pH just isn't tight enough. It ships as a complete kit (SKU AI533) with two dedicated electrodes: the Swiss LabSen 211 combination pH electrode and the BPB (Brush-Resistant Platinum Black) 2401T-F glass conductivity electrode. Together they let the meter report pH, EC, TDS, salinity, resistivity, and temperature from a single dip — no instrument swapping.
The meter's IP54-rated housing handles the humidity and splash exposure typical of a working grow lab or fertigation room. An ORP (redox) measurement mode is also available when an optional ORP electrode is connected, making the unit extensible if oxidation-reduction monitoring becomes part of the protocol.
Commercial cannabis and hemp operators running tissue culture labs, mother rooms, propagation benches, or nutrient mixing stations need data they can stand behind — not a number that drifts 0.05 units between readings. The PC820's ±0.002 pH accuracy and ±0.5% F.S. conductivity accuracy put it in the same tier as instruments used in university and pharmaceutical labs, at a form factor that fits a production facility bench.
It's equally useful for operators running reverse osmosis or municipal-blend water programs where resistivity and salinity readings inform mineral additions. Quality-control teams performing pre-shipment or batch verification checks will also benefit from the GLP data management system — every measurement is time-stamped and retrievable, which supports state-level recordkeeping requirements many licensed operators face.
The 5-point auto-calibration routine automatically recognizes standard buffer solutions (4.00, 7.00, 10.01 pH; 84 µS/cm, 1,413 µS/cm, 12.88 mS/cm) — all six calibration solutions are included in the kit. A slope display between calibrations tells you in real time whether the pH electrode is still performing within spec, so you catch a degrading probe before it produces bad data rather than after.
The backlit LCD simultaneously displays pH or EC alongside temperature, with on-screen icons confirming a stable reading and completed calibration. Auto timing and data-logging mode lets the meter record measurements at set intervals without an operator present — useful for soak or leachate testing. Data transfers via USB to the included PC-Link software (Windows) for charting, export, and compliance documentation.
The complete AI533 kit includes: PC820 meter, LabSen 211 pH electrode, 2401T-F conductivity electrode, temperature probe, flexible electrode holder, USB cable, PC-Link software flash drive, 9V power adapter (120V AC / 60Hz input), and six pre-mixed calibration solution bottles.
In a multi-room cultivation facility, the PC820 typically lives at the fertigation or nutrient prep station as the primary verification instrument — the meter technicians use to confirm that inline or handheld readings are dialed in correctly. Because it stores up to 1,000 GLP data groups with timestamps, it can serve as an audit trail for nutrient solution batches, which is increasingly relevant as state regulators scrutinize production documentation.
For operators running coco, rockwool, or NFT systems where EC management directly drives yield and cannabinoid profiles, the ±0.5% F.S. conductivity accuracy is meaningful. A pocket tester that reads 2.1 mS/cm when the actual value is 2.3 mS/cm is not a small error when you're managing a 10,000 sq-ft canopy across multiple strains with different nutrient tolerances. The PC820 reduces that uncertainty. Request a quote through HSC to discuss volume pricing or pairing with calibration solution bundles.
| SKU | AI533 |
| Model | Apera PC820 |
| pH Measuring Range | -2.000 to 19.999 pH |
| pH Resolution | 0.1 / 0.01 / 0.001 pH |
| pH Accuracy | ±0.002 ±1 digit |
| pH Calibration | Automatic 1- to 5-point; auto-recognizes standard buffers |
| Conductivity Accuracy | ±0.5% F.S. ±1 digit (0–50°C) |
| Parameters | pH, EC, TDS, Salinity, Resistivity, Temperature (ORP with optional electrode) |
| Temperature Compensation | 0–100°C, automatic or manual ATC |
| Data Storage | 1,000 GLP data groups with date/time stamp; USB output; PC-Link software |
| IP Rating | IP54 (water-resistant and dustproof) |
| Warranty | 3 years on instrument; 6 months on electrodes |
The PC820 uses the Swiss LabSen 211 combination pH electrode and the Precision BPB 2401T-F glass conductivity electrode, which together deliver ±0.002 pH and ±0.5% F.S. conductivity accuracy — roughly 5× tighter on pH than the PC800's ±0.01 pH. The PC820 also stores 1,000 GLP data groups versus 500 on the PC800. If you're running a formal QA program, tissue culture work, or state-auditable records, the PC820 is the correct tier.
The AI533 kit includes six pre-mixed calibration solution bottles: 4.00 pH, 7.00 pH, 10.01 pH, 84 µS/cm, 1,413 µS/cm, and 12.88 mS/cm. That covers a full 3-point pH calibration and 3-point conductivity calibration out of the box. Replacement solution sets are available separately through HSC when you're ready to restock.
Yes. The PC820 stores up to 1,000 data groups — each record includes the measurement value, unit, temperature, date, and time. Data transfers via the included USB cable to Apera's PC-Link software (Windows-based). From there you can generate reports suitable for internal audit trails or regulatory recordkeeping. The GLP data management structure is specifically designed for environments where traceability is required.
Apera's manufacturer warranty covers the included LabSen 211 pH electrode for six months, which reflects typical lab-use lifespan under normal conditions. In a commercial grow setting with frequent measurement cycles, aggressive nutrient solutions, or high-salinity feeds, electrode life may be shorter. The slope display between calibrations is your best field indicator — if slope degrades significantly outside the normal 90–105% range, it's time to replace the electrode. Replacement electrodes are available through HSC.
Yes. The BPB 2401T-F conductivity electrode and the meter's conductivity measurement architecture are designed for a wide EC range, covering values well above what even heavy-feeding cannabis cultivars require. The ±0.5% F.S. accuracy at that range is tighter than most portable meters, which matters when you're comparing readings across fertigation runs or verifying that a recipe hit target EC before it hits the canopy.
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